Dispensing blister package



I Feb. 6, 1968 R. B. DUNl-LAM ET AL 3,367,491

DISPENSING BLISTER PACKAGE Filed Jan. 25, 1967 FIGI H06 FIG? INVENTORSRONALD B DUNHAM WILLIAM H. JONES BY MIM,IW J aka-+11;

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,367,491 DISPENSING BLISTERPACKAGE Ronald B. Duuham, 891 Union Lake Road, Union Lake, Mich. 48085,and William H. Jones, 19431 E. Cameron Ave., Covina, Calif. 91722 FiledJan. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 611,619 8 Claims. (Cl. 206-78) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLGSURE A blister package including a molded transparent containersecured to a base is provided with an opening in the base covered byinternal, slidable closure means. The closure means may be slid acrossthe base along a predetermined path to uncover the opening, and isprevented from moving transversely of the path of travel by guide meanson the container. Bending of the closure means out of contact with thebase is prevented by abutment means on the container. The containerincludes detent means resisting initial movement of the closure means toprevent inadvertent uncovering of the opening.

Background of invention In merchandising certain kinds of goods it isfrequently advantageous to utilize so-called blister packages. In suchpackages, the goods are usually enclosed within a hollow, open blisterof thin, rigid, transparent material, such as celluloid, secured aboutits open peripheral edge to a relatively stiff display card. Access tothe contents is obtained by tearing open or otherwise destroying theblister.

Such blister packages, though widely used, may prove unsatisfactory incertain circumstances. For example, in merchandising certain goods whichare usually purchased in plural quantities and used at spaced intervals,such as medicinal pills or hardware items such as screws and the like,it is not practicable to utilize a package which must be destroyed uponopening. Other problems may arise if a manufacturer of goods wishes topurchase ready made blister packages which he may fill directly with hisgoods without requiring special equipment to seal the blister to thecard after filling.

For these reasons, interest has been shown in developing a blisterpackage from which goods may be selectively withdrawn'as requiredwithout destruction of the package or which may be filled withoutrequiring special sealing equipment. One approach to this problem hasinvolved the provision of blister packages wherein the package isprovided with an opening in one package wall controlled by some form ofsliding closure. Such prior devices have generally proven unsatisfactoryfor a number of reasons, one of the most frequent being a failure toprovide adequate guidance for the sliding closure.

For example, it may be possible for the closure to move transversely ofits path of travel during movement to the fully closed position so thatin its final position the closure is sufliciently transversely displacedfrom the opening to leave a gap through which some of the contents, ifsufliciently small, may escape. Alternatively, it may be possible forthe closure to be bent out of contact with the adjacent package wall,permitting some of the contents to pass between the closure and thepackage wall out through the opening. Either result is unsatisfactory,firstly in permitting loss of contents and secondly in permitting theingress of outside contaminants such as dust and the like. Thisadvantage is particularly acute where the items are relatively minutesuch as, for example, certain medicinal tablets, small ball bearings andthe like.

Another disadvantage of prior devices of this type has 3,367,491Patented Feb. 6, 1968 caused by the force of gravity if the package isunintentionally inverted.

Summary 0 f invention It is therefore a general object of the inventionto provide a dispensing blister package so constructed that thepossibility of inadvertent loss of any of the contents of the package isminimized.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a dispensingblister package of the type including a dispensing opening controlled bya slidable closure, wherein motion of the closure transversely of itspath of travel is effectively prevented.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dispensing blisterpackage of the type described wherein the sliding closure is effectivelyrestrained against accidental opening.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a dispensing blisterpackage of the type described wherein bending of the closure out ofcontact with adjacent po tions of the package is effectively prevented.

The drawings In accordance with these objects, a dispensing blisterpackage forming one preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thedispensing blister package shown with the sliding closure in a fullyclosed position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing package shown in FIGURE1 with the sliding closure in a partially open position;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional end View of the dispensing blister packageshown in FIGURE 1 taken along the line 33 therein;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the dispensing blisterpackage shown in FIGURE 1 taken along the line 44 therein;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional end view of the dispensing blister packageshown in FIGURE 1 taken along the line 5-5 therein;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional end view of the dispensing blister packageshown in FIGURE 1 taken along the lines 66 therein;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the dispensingblister package shown in FIGURE 1 taken along the lines 77 thereinshowing the resilient detent prior to movement of the sliding closurefrom the fully closed position; and

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the dispensingblister package shown in FIGURE 2 taken along the lines 88 thereinshowing the detent subsequent to movement of the sliding closure fromthe fully closed position.

Detailed description Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, thepreferred embodiment there shown includes a flat rectangular base wall 2having secured to an outer face surface 3 thereof, an outwardlydirected, generally rectangular, transparent blister 4. A rectangularaperture 6 in the base wall 2 is covered by a relatively larger,rectangular, overlapping, closure plate 8 abutting the base wall 2 in afully closed position of the closure plate. The closure plate 8 may beslid forwardly along the base wall 2 by a pull applied to a tab 10connected to the closure plate 8 to progressively expose the opening 6so that the contents of the package may be withdrawn. The closure plate8 is provided with spaced opposed guide edge surfaces 12 extendingparallel to the direction of motion of the closure plate 8, which abutguide walls 14 molded into the blister 4 so that motion of the closureplate transversely of its sliding direction of closure is prevented.

Additionally, the blister 4 is provided with abutment surfaces 16parallel to the outer surface 3 of the base wall and abutting the outersurface of the closure plate 8. The abutment surfaces 16 hold theclosure plate 8 in continuous abutting contact with the face surface 3of the base wall 2 throughout the range of movement of the closure plate8. Inadvertent opening of the closure plate 8 is prevented by resilientdetents 18 molded in the blister 4 abutting the leading portions 20 ofthe closure plate in the fully closed position.

The previously mentioned base wall 2 forming the base wall of thedispensing package in the preferred embodiment comprises a flatcardboard display card, but any suitable material capable of providingsufficient rigidity for the dispensing blister package may be used. Itwill be appreciated that a base wall molded from the same material asthe blister and integral therewith may also be provided. The surface ofthe display card 2 to which the blister 4 is secured may be printed withthe usual indicia such as advertising matter, price and the like. Thecard 2 includes a hole 22 on the center line of the display cardadjacent the forward edge thereof by which the dispensing package may behung on a suitable hook or the like.

The previously mentioned blister 4 is of generally rectangular form andincludes two spaced opposed forwardly and outwardly extending side walls26, spaced opposed end walls 28 and 30, respectively, perpendicular toand relatively shorter than the side walls 26, and an outer wall 32parallel to the base wall 2. Although a rectangular form has beendescribed, it will be appreciated that other regular or irregularthree-dimensional forms may be utilized.

The blister 4 may be formed in any suitable conventional manner such as,for example, vacuum forming or the like. The blister 4 also includes arectangular base flange 34 lying in a plane parallel to and spaced fromthe top 32. The base flange 34 is secured to the flat face of the base 2with the longitudinal and lateral axes of the blister 4 and the basewall 2 in respective alignment. Any suitable known form of adhesive orthermal bonding may be utilized to secure the blister 4 to the base 2.

The blister 4 also includes the previously mentioned guide walls 14which are parallel to and spaced from the side walls 26 of the bubble.Each guide wall 14 is integral with and extends perpendicularlyoutwardly from the adjacent portion of base flange 34.

The guide walls 14 are parallel to and abuttingly contact the previouslymentioned edge surfaces 12 (FIGURE 3) of the closure plate 8 so that theclosure plate 8 may move only in a forward and rearward direction. Inthis manner any looseness or transverse motion of the card in its fullyclosed position which might permit the portions of the opening to becomeuncovered by the closure plate 8, permitting inadvertent loss of some ofthe contents of the package or the ingress of contaminants or dirt, iseffectively prevented. The closure plate 8 in a partially open positionis shown in FIGURE 2.

Integral with and connecting each vertical wall 26 and the adjacentguide wall 14 are the previously mentioned abutment portions 16. Theabutment portions 16 are disposed in a plane parallel to and spacedoutwardly from the outer, face surface 3 of the base wall 2. Referringto FIGURE 4 the closure plate 8 includes a flat, first surface 40 inabutting, sliding contact with the outer surface 3 of the base wall 2and a parallel, outwardly spaced, second surface 42. The outward extentof each of the previously mentioned guide walls 14 in a directionmeasured perpendicular to the surface 3 of the base wall 2 is such as toplace the abutting portions 16 in sliding abutting contact with thesecond surface 42 of the closure plate 8.

In this manner, the abutment portions 16 effectively 4- hold the closureplate 8 in continuous abutting contact with the face surface 3 of thebase wall 2, thereby effectively minimizing possible loss of any of thecontents of the package between the surfaces 3 and 42 of the base wall 2and the closure plate 8 through the opening 6 due to outward bending ofthe closure plate.

The closure plate 8 also includes spaced forward and rear edges 44 and4-6 perpendicular to the guide edge surfaces 12. Those portions of theforward edge 44 extending on either side of the tabs 10 define thepreviously mentioned leading edge portions 20.

The previously mentioned aperture 6 in the base wall 2 is defined byspaced opposed, forwardly and rearwardly extending edges 48, parallel toand positioned inwardly of, the position occupied by the guide edgesurfaces 12 of the closure plate 8 in the fully closed condition and byspaced opposed edges extending perpendicularly between the edges 48adjacent and spaced inwardly of the positions occupied by the forwardand rear edges 44 and 46 of the closure plate 8 in the fully closedposition thereof. Although a rectangular opening 6 symmetricallydisposed with respect to the closure 8 has been described, it will beappreciated that any opening profile, in any disposition, may beprovided so long as it is entirely covered by the closure plate 8 in thefully closed position thereof.

So that the closure plate 8 may be moved, the previously mentioned tab10 is provided. The tab 10 includes first and second flat surfaces 52and 54, respectively, coplanar with the first and second surfaces 40 and42 of the closure plate 8. The tab 10 also includes tab edge surfaces 56parallel to and spaced inwardly of the guide edge surfaces 12 of theclosure plate. An opening 58 (FIGURE 5) is molded into the forwardportion of the base flange 34 to permit the tab 10 to pass forwardly outof the blister 4. The opening 58 is defined by forwardly extending sideweb portions 60 generally perpendicular to the plane of the outersurface 3 of the base wall 2 and continuously abutting the tab edgesurfaces 56 of the tab 10. The side webs 60 guide and center the tab 10in its path of travel and assist in reducing the possibility oftransverse or rotational movement of the closure plate 8 to which thetab is connected.

The side webs 60 are joined by a cross web 62 parallel to and inabutting contact with the second surface 54 of the tab 10. The cross web62 holds the tab 10 securely against the base wall 2.

It will be appreciated that the opening 58 snugly rcceives the tab 10with the result that no articles may inadvertently pass out of theblister through the tab opening and also minimizing the possibility thatdust and the like may enter the package.

At its free forward extremity the tab 10 is provided with an integraltag 64 extending transversely of the tab 10. The tag 64 includes aforward lateral edge 66 which in the fully closed position of theclosure plate 8 is aligned with a forward lateral edge 68 of the basewall 2. The tag 64 also includes a hook aperture 70 (FIGURE 4) which isaligned with the hook aperture 22 of the base wall 2 when the closureplate 8 is in the fully closed position so that when the dispensingpackage is hung on a hook for display purposes it may not be opened,thereby discouraging casual pilfering.

Motion of the closure plate in its path of travel within the blister 4is limited by forward and rear end stops 72 and 74 integral with theblister 4. The rear end stop 74 extends perpendicularly between the rearextremities of the guide walls 14 parallel to and spaced rearwardly fromthe rear end wall 30 and is perpendicular to the base flange 34. In thefully closed position the rear edge 46 of the closure plate 8 abuts therear stop 74 and is thereby prevented from further rearward movement. Arear abutment portion 76, coplanar with the abutment portions 16 andconnecting the bottom side surface 30 and the rear stop 74, contacts theupper surface 42 of the closure plate to hold the latter against thebase 2 to provide added security for the contents.

The forward stop 72 abuts the leading edge portions- 20 of the closureplate 8 in the fully opened position thereof to limit further forwardmotion of the closure plate. The forward stop 72, extendingperpendicularly be tween the forward extremities of the guide walls 14,intersects the previously mentioned forward end wall 28 and isperpendicular to the flange 34 and adjacent portions of the abutmentportions 16.

To strengthen the walls 26 of the bubble, spaced, outwardly extendingdimples 80 (FIGURES 4 and 6) may be provided.

To resist initial movement of the closure plate 8 from the fully closedposition to prevent inadvertent opening of the dispensing package, thepreviously mentioned detents 18 are provided. Referring to FIGURES 7 and8, each detent 18 may be seen to comprise a molded dimple in eachabutment portion 14 extending toward and contacting the outer surface ofthe base wall 2. Each dimple 18 is positioned forwardly of and inabutting contact with an adjacent leading edge portion 20 of the closureplate 8, as best seen in FIGURE 7. Before the closure plate can move, itis necessary for the abutment portion 14 to be resiliently deformed tothe configuration shown in FIGURE 8, thereby providing a safeguardagainst accidental opening. The dimples 18 extend partially intoadjacent portions of the side walls 26.

It will be seen that in constructing a dispensing blister packageaccording to the present invention, a container particularly effectiveboth in minimizing the possibility of accidental loss of the contentsand in resisting the ingress of outside dirt and dust is provided.

In particular the guide walls ensure that the closure in moving to thefully closed position always fully covers the opening thereby preventingany transverse misalignment of the closure which might permit escape ofthe contents.

Similarly the abutment portions which hold the closure constantly incontact with the outer surface of the base prevent the escape ofcontents or the ingress of dirt between the closure plate and the basewall via the opening.

Other important advantages are provided by the resilient detents whichguard against the possibility that the package may be openedunintentionally with possible loss of some of its contents.

Although the invention is described with reference to one preferredembodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatadditions, deletions, modifications, substitutions and other changes notspecifically described or illustrated in these embodiments may be madewhich will fall within the purview of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A dispensing blister package comprising:

a rigid, thin-walled, space-enclosing blister having one open side;

a base wall secured to said blister closing said open side thereof, saidbase wall having a face surface facing interiorly of said blister,

said base wall further including an opening;

movable closure means within said blister slidably contacting said facesurface of said base wall, said closure means in a fully closed positionthereof overlying and entirely closing said opening,

a tab connected with said closure means adapted for movement relative tosaid base wall to slide said closure means over said face surface ofsaid base wall in a forward direction along a predetermined path oftravel to progressively expose the opening in the said base wall,

said closure means including,

two edge surfaces generally perpendicular to said face surface of saidbase Wall extending parallel to said predetermined path of travel ofsaid closure means, said edge surfaces being mutually spaced in adirection perpendicular to said path of travel, and two guide wallsintegral with said blister generally perpendicular to said face surfaceof said base wall extending parallel to said predetermined path oftravel, said guide walls continuously abutting each of said edgesurfaces of said closure means to prevent motion thereof transversely ofsaid opening.

2. A dispensing blister package as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said closure means includes first and second parallel surfacesrespectively abutting and remote from said face surface of said basewall,

said blister further including:

abutment walls fixedly connected with said guide walls extendingperpendicularly thereto spaced from and generally parallel to said facesurface of said base wall, said abutment walls contacting successiveportions of said second surface of said closure means during movementthereof, to maintain said closure in abutting contact with said facesurface of said base wall.

3. A dispensing blister package as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said tab being secured to said closure means extending forwardlytherefrom,

spaced opposed tab edge surfaces on said .tab parallel to said edgesurfaces of said closure means,

said blister including,

spaced opposed flanges abutting said tab edge surfaces,

whereby said tab is constrained to move only along the direction of thepath of travel of said closure means.

4. A dispensing blister package as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said closure means further includes;

leading edge portions positioned at the forward end of each of said edgesurfaces generally perpendicular thereto;

detent means including;

resilient deformable portions of said blister abutting said leading edgeportions of said closure means in the fully closed position thereof toinitially resist movement of said closure means from said fully closedposition.

5. A dispensing blister package as defined in claim 1 further including:

end wall portions of said blister extending generally perpendicularlybetween the forward end and rear extremities of each said guide walls tolimit the movement of said closure means within said blister.

6. A dispensing blister package as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said tab includes first and second surfaces respectively abutting andremote from said face surface of said base wall, and

second abutment means on said blister contacting portions of said secondsurface of said tab to maintain said tab in abutting contact with saidface surface of said base wall.

7. A dispensing blister package as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said closure means is a generally rectangular flat plate.

8. A dispensing blister package comprising:

a rigid, thin-walled, space-enclosing blister having one open side,

a base wall secured to said blister closing said open side thereof, saidbase wall having a face surface facing interiorly of said blister,

said base wall further including an opening,

movable closure means within said blister slidably contacting said facesurface of said base wall, said closure means in a fully closed positionthereof overlying and entirely closing said opening,

a tab connected with said closure means adapted for movement relative tosaid base wall to slide said closure means over said face surface ofsaid base wall in a forward direction along a predetermined path oftravel to progressively expose the opening in said base wall, saidclosure means including,

two edge surfaces generally perpendicular to said face surface of saidbase wall extending parallel to said predetermined path of travel ofsaid closure means, said edge surfaces being mutually spaced in adirection perpendicular to said path of travel, a first surface abuttingsaid face surface of said base wall, a second surface parallel to saidfirst surface remote from said base wall, leading edge portionspositioned at the forward end of each of said edge surfaces generallyperpendicular thereto; said blister further including,

two guide walls integral with said blister generally perpendicular tosaid face surface of said base wall extending parallel to saidpredetermined path of travel, said guide walls continuously abuttingeach of said edge surfaces of said closure means to prevent motionthereof transversely of said opening, abutment walls fixedly connectedto said guide walls extending perpendicularly thereto spaced from andgenerally parallel to said base wall,

said abutment walls contacting successive portions of said secondsurface of said closure means during movement thereof to maintain saidclosure means in abutting contact with said face surface of said basewalls, and

resilient deformable portions of said blister abutting said leading edgeportions of said closure means in the fully closed position thereof toinitially resist movement of said closure means from said fully closedposition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, PrimaryExaminer.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Examiner.

GEORGE T. HALL, Assistant Examiner.

